Abstract
Background: Neonatal mortality rates remain high in Sub-Saharan African countries. Improving the newborn resuscitation skills of healthcare professionals is important in addressing this challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate a neonatal resuscitation training programme delivered over a two-year period for healthcare professionals in Zanzibar, Tanzania.Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was designed. We delivered neonatal resuscitation training over a 2-day period in 2017 and 2 days of refresher training in 2018. Knowledge was evaluated by a self-designed survey (11 items with a total score of 22) before and after the two training periods, and skills were evaluated by a skills checklist (six domains with 25 items with a total score of 50) completed by the trainers based on their observations. Statistical analysis included differences in the knowledge and skills scores before and after the training sessions and between the two periods.Results: A total of 23 healthcare professionals participated and completed both neonatal resuscitation training sessions. The knowledge mean scores before and after the training in 2017 increased from 9.60 to 13.60 (95% CI: −5.900; −2.099, p < 0.001), and in 2018, the scores increased from 10.80 to 15.44 (95% CI: −6.062; −3.217, p < 0.001). The mean knowledge scores post-training over time were 13.60 in 2017 and 15.44 in 2018 (95% CI: −3.489; 0.190, p = 0.030). The resuscitation skills performance between the two time periods increased from a mean of 32.26 (SD = 2.35) to a mean of 42.43 (SD = 1.73) (95% CI: −11.402; −8.945, p < 0.001).Conclusion: The neonatal resuscitation training programme increased the theoretical knowledge and resuscitation skills before and after the two training sessions and over time after a 9-month period. Continuous neonatal resuscitation training based on the local needs in resource-limited countries is essential to provide confidence in healthcare professionals to initiate resuscitation and to improve newborn outcomes.
Highlights
While child mortality has improved globally over the past decades, neonatal mortality rates have remained stagnant in certain areas
Our study demonstrated overall progress and retention of knowledge and skills in neonatal resuscitation training among a small group of pediatric healthcare professionals from resource-limited settings
Continuous neonatal resuscitation training based on the local conditions and participants’ needs has been effective and essential for professionals in Zanzibar
Summary
While child mortality has improved globally over the past decades, neonatal mortality rates have remained stagnant in certain areas. Almost half of neonatal deaths occur in lowand middle-income countries. This is most prevalent in SubSaharan countries in Africa, including Tanzania [3]. Tanzania has one of the lowest physician-to-population ratios in the world, and neonatal mortality remains high at 21 deaths per 1,000 live births [4]. High neonatal mortality is partially influenced by a lack of qualified healthcare professionals with skills in neonatal resuscitation, inadequate training, and insufficient medical resources [7]. Neonatal mortality rates remain high in Sub-Saharan African countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate a neonatal resuscitation training programme delivered over a two-year period for healthcare professionals in Zanzibar, Tanzania
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